Population
45,641
2025
+2.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Barren County, KY: population growth, jobs and income
Barren County gained 229 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.5%).
Barren County had an estimated 45,641 residents in 2025, up 2.5% (1,133 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Kentucky as a whole (+2.2%), and the 50th fastest growth of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Data file: the tables in CSV and Excel, no PDF. 3 counties: adds Warren County and Allen County.
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Barren County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Barren County plus 15 more figures, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S. Three of the 15, free:
- Median gross rent$796/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes11.2%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months165Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- IRS net movers: people, households and rateIn the report
- Households and housing unitsIn the report
- Homes built since 2010, share of all homesIn the report
- Private business establishmentsIn the report
- Residents who moved in; 3-year net migration rateIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+196
2025
4.3 per 1,000 residents
+1,186 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.9%
2025
+0.6 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted (calendar 2025)
204
2025
−32.5% since 2021
4.5 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$50,628
2020–24
+21.5% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
12,882
2023
−10.6% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 196 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out. Counting international arrivals, net migration was about +316.
Private employers had 12,882 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −10.6% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.9% in 2025, 0.6 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 204 new homes in 2025, or 4.5 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $50,628 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +21.5% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,122nd.
Part of the Glasgow, KY micro area.
Get Barren County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Barren County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Barren County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45,641 | +229 |
| 2024 | 45,412 | +345 |
| 2023 | 45,067 | +213 |
| 2022 | 44,854 | +250 |
| 2021 | 44,604 | +96 |
| 2020 | 44,508 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Barren County
Barren County grew by 1,133 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+1,186).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −90 | −524 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +120 | +451 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +196 | +1,186 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +3 | +20 | |
| Total change | +229 | +1,133 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Kentucky | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 50th of 120 | 1,122nd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 62nd of 120 | 1,165th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 109th of 120 | 2,843rd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 83rd of 120 | 2,709th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 60th of 120 | 2,441st of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 16th of 97 | 714th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Barren County, KY as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. It has everything on this page plus 15 more figures for Barren County, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Warren County and Allen County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Barren County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet. See a sample CSV.
Use it inside your organisation and in your own publications, presentations and website, with the attribution shown on it. Please don't resell or redistribute the data in bulk. Terms, section 4.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Barren County's population change (+2.5%) was ahead of 1 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 5.
Its median household income ($50,628, 2020–24) is lower than in all 6 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barren County, KY This county | 45,641 | +2.5% | 4.3 | 4.5 | $50,628 |
| Allen County, KY | 22,536 | +9.5% | 17.6 | 0.8 | $61,403 |
| Monroe County, KY | 11,191 | −1.1% | 7.5 | – | $51,280 |
| Metcalfe County, KY | 10,583 | +2.9% | 7.6 | – | $51,473 |
| Hart County, KY | 20,117 | +4.3% | 9.9 | 13.5 | $52,285 |
| Edmonson County, KY | 12,749 | +5.0% | 8.3 | – | $54,937 |
| Warren County, KY | 149,375 | +10.6% | 8.0 | 9.7 | $65,794 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Barren County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 1,133 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Most recently, between 2024 and 2025 it gained 229 residents (+0.5%). Kentucky as a whole changed +2.2% over the same years. That ranks 50th of 120 counties in Kentucky for population growth.
How many people moved to Barren County?
On net, about 196 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate). Counting international arrivals, net migration was about +316.
What is the unemployment rate in Barren County?
It averaged 4.9% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Barren County?
About 45,641 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Barren County?
Private employers there had 12,882 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −10.6% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Kentucky
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Kentucky county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Barren County data alerts
Email me when Barren County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.